References How Important
I just had what I feel was a solid second interview today and when I returned home I had an e-mail from them saying they forgot to ask for my references. I supplied a former manager and a current co-worker in the same position as me who has also moved up the ranks along side me at my current company. I think this is a good sign that they asked for them but my question is how important are references to someone in a hiring position? I have the permission of the references but what if something comes out wrong or is taken wrong? I know I'm paranoid but I really want this new position. Any insight would be helpful. Thanks!
Background checks, which include criminal checks and sometimes even credit checks, seem to have gotten more popular since I last looked for work 10 years ago. While some people don' t think that it should carry a lot of weight I am afraid that it does. In fact, I went on an interview where the interviewer asked me to be absolutely honest about even a misdemeanor. He went on to tell me a story that he interviewed this one guy for a sales position. He asked the guy about any criminal background no matter how small. The guy being interviewed thought for a minute and then said that he had been arrested, charged and convicted for indecent exposure. What actually happened was that the guy just left a convention center and was walking through the parking lot when he realized he needed to pee. He ducked into an alley and was relieving himself when he security guards came up behind him. They arrested him. It probably wouldn' t have even gone that far except that it turns out there were some kids under 16 who saw him. he interviewer stated to me that he is very glad the guy told him the story because if he saw his criminal record and found this, he never would have hired him. And hiring him was the best thing that could have been done. References have become very popular also, I have discovered. The trick with references is to make sure that what your references are saying is going to bathe you in a positive light. So, if you have had a conflict with your manager or a co-worker, then you probably should leave those people out of your reference list. There are a few posts here regarding references and how important they could be to your job hunt. (ooh, I just thought of something that happened to me a while ago. Look for my new post)
My last job, I came half an hour late and my previous boss had no interest in hiring me. He called my references and they gave glowing comments and I was hired. References have a tremendous influence. Usually your references will let you know that they have been contacted and give you an update of what transpired. If they don't then follow up with them. I am very careful about who I use as a reference. It has not happened to me, but I know of people who got bad reviews from their references. While a reference may slip up on occasion, you should always know what they will say. The fact that you were asked for references is probably a good sign. You should make sure the references know they will be called and provide them with info on the job (even emailing them a copy of the job ad). How important are references? As a hiring manager I would be hesitant to hire someone with out them and thought everyone thought this way. However my wife was hired as an assistant store manager at a national chain and her references were not checked (although someone might have known someone else and did it that way). I think good references are important. Make sure you know what they' re going to say. I find the best references are friends who will lie for you. They have to be believable, too, of course. The best is someone who still works at your former employer, "Hello, yes I' m Mr. Bigtime Manager at XZY corp, the leader in our field. Yes I know Mr. shopper well, he worked for us for many years. He' s an expert in exactly what you' re hiring for, he walks on water and even makes his own water. He' s not only the smartest guy I even met, he' s the luckiest too. Everything he touches turns to gold." | |
|
Career Tips
|